The 51st annual Peace Officers of the Year were awarded in a ceremony at the American Legion Hall in Placerville Wednesday evening.

The American Legion presented its Peace Officers of the Year award to a member each of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, the Placerville Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, and were nominated and voted on by their peers in their respective agencies...

“This award is pretty special,” Root said. “It’s for a year’s worth of service. For those 12 months, he went above and beyond.” Root noted Nichols “exemplified professionalism” and was constantly expanding his knowledge and training.

Nichols joined the CHP in 2010, in what Officer Quinn Cuthbertson called a “family legacy.” Nichols’ father, Gary, received the same award years earlier during his tenure as a CHP officer.

“He’s a good kid and a hard-working officer,” Gary Nichols said. “He wanted to be a patrol officer for as long as I can remember.” He said his son has known nothing but being an officer. “I’m very proud of him.”

“Thank you everybody,” Nichols said upon receiving the award. “It means a lot to me. I’m speechless. Thank you...